By Ross Brenneman
Author Posts
By ELAINE KURTENBACH, Associated Press
By Batten Institute University of Virginia Darden School of Business T he current model of education in the United States is stifling the creative soul of our children. While this is troubling for a variety of reasons, it also has significant economic consequences for the future of our country. America has long been unique because of its remarkable ingenuity, innovative capacity and entrepreneurial spirit. Yet over the last few decades, we have witnessed both a steady decline in the number of startups, as well as an increasing number of studies that suggest America’s education model fails to promote the kind of creativity, risk-taking, and problem solving skills necessary for entrepreneurship, and for a world and labor market that is in the midst of profound transformation. These are very worrisome trends. Read the Rest of the Article on Forbes Site..
CANDICE NORWOOD
ATLANTA — After more than five years of controversy and five months of testimony, a prosecutor used seven words on Monday to recap the accusations against the dozen Atlanta educators seated in a courtroom here.“They cheated,” the prosecutor, John E. Floyd, told the jurors in Fulton County Superior Court. “They lied. And they stole.”Mr. Floyd’s scornful summary came near the start of what will be days of closing arguments centered on whether significant increases in standardized test scores in Atlanta’s public schools came about because of endemic cheating and what prosecutors say was criminal misconduct that included racketeering. The trial, set up by a March 2013 indictment, as well as a state-commissioned report and a series of articles published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, could lead to decades in prison for the defendants.Read the rest of this story at The New York Times
By Matt Precey-Stress levels among teachers in England’s classrooms are soaring, a BBC investigation has found.Unions are blaming workload for large numbers of staff taking time off work or leaving the profession.Insurance industry data suggests stress is the biggest cause of staff absence save for maternity.The Department for Education insists it is working “to tackle the issue of unnecessary workload which we know can lead to stress”.The BBC has also seen a survey of 3,500 members of the Nasuwt teaching union which shows more than two-thirds of respondents considered quitting the profession in the past year. Read the rest of the story at BBC News
Outreach aims to temper any backlash over tests aligned with the common coreBy Andrew UjifusaEven as states begin administering new tests aligned with the Common Core State Standards, they are ramping up efforts to eliminate or minimize public backlash when the scores—widely expected to be markedly lower than results from previous assessments—are released later this year.From old-fashioned fliers designed to reach parents via students’ backpacks to webinars intended for administrators and teachers, states including Illinois and New Jersey are using a diverse set of resources and partnering with various groups to prepare school communities and the general public for what’s coming.Read the rest of the story at Education Week
F iftyThree has spent the last several years making products to increase creativity among users. Now the company has an eye on producing new tools not just for the consumer market, but that enterprise and education users could also leverage. To help with that, the company is also announcing it has raised $30 million in new financing from New Enterprise Associates.FiftyThree started out with an iPad app called Paper that was built to give users new tools to unlock their creativity. It followed that up with Pencil, a stylus designed to interact with Paper and make it easier for creators to use the app. Most recently, the company released Mix, which provides a new way for them to collaborate.Read the rest of the article on TechCrunch
Large Market and Company Traction Drive Funding
Jim Kohlmoos, Principal with Edge Consulting, discusses how he works with organizations to navigate education priorities and agendas.
Rick Russell of Optimus Education discusses professional development for school leaders and the new delivery mechanisms used for the 21st century educator.
Leaders in education technology and investment speak to the current trends and future outlooks of the industry.
A conversation with the Ministry of Education (Pueblo, MX) Antonio Arguelles.
Thought leaders share their view on the myths and misunderstandings of the Common Core State Standards.
Center for Education Reform President Kara Kerwin discusses the need for new approaches to education.